I've got one of 2000 1.8 models. LIke the car at the ARRC last year, it started life as an SSC car. The engine is not the same as in the Miata (see below), which is not to say that dyno/ ECM mods won't help it. That's on down the line for us, though, we're just doing the minimum to get it on track in ITB trim for now (feeding a Spec Miata from the same pair of wallets).

Handling was the car's strong suit, as it had one of the famous "trunk kits" (shocks and springs, but no coil overs). We'll be on a slow development curve, but we think the car is well suited to the class. Had the ITAC not reclassified it from ITA to ITB, it would still be gathering dust in the back of the garage...

Hope to be on track for next month's MARRS/ SARRC @ VIR.

From the the Protege FAQ (http://www.protegefaq.net/):
Is it true that the Miata uses the same engine as my Protegé? All sorts
of speed parts are available for Miatas.
 The 94-97 1.8L Miata uses an engine that is basically similar to the BP
engine found in the 1990-1998 1.8L DOHC Protegé (the 1999-2000 1.8L DOHC
Protegé engine is completely different, despite similar specs).... The 1999-2000 BP-ZE Miata engine is similar to the 1994-1997 Miata/Protegé
motor, but Mazda repositioned the intake ports slightly higher on the
cylinder head for increased power. Compression was also raised from 9:1 to
9.5:1. For Miata owners, this is good, but it's bad for Protegé fans because
a Protegé intake manifold will not fit on this cylinder head. Therefore, you
are stuck with a throttle body that faces the wrong end of the engine. To
date, this engine has not been sold in a FWD car anywhere in the world, so
there is no easy way to work around this problem.
.